May 5, 2010 (Paso Robles, CA) Paso Robles Wine Country announces the stellar team of chefs to display their culinary flair during the new Wine Festival, Wine Country Auction & Dinner, Saturday, May 22, from 6:30 â€“ 10:30 p.m. The Wine Country Auction & Dinner (tickets available at www.pasowine.com) features classic American, farm to table cuisine and a first of its kind live auction held in the Downtown Park. Leading the dining experience for the evening is local chef, Charles D. Paladin Wayne, who specializes in wine country cuisine. Joining Chef Paladin Wayne is local caterer, Chef de Cuisine, Jeffrey Scott, Chef Julie Simon, of Thomas Hill Organics and Chef Kelly Wangard, of Summerwood Winery. Wine Festival event producers are also thrilled to welcome San Francisco and Bay Area guest chef, Mark Sullivan, executive chef of the Village Pub and Spruce, to the Wine Country Auction & Dinner team.

Chef Mark Sullivan, who was also named FOOD & WINE Magazineâ€™s Best New Chef of 2002, puts a contemporary American spin on classic French cuisine. Beginning in the restaurant scene at the age of 16, Chef Sullivan has made his mark in the culinary world by building on Old World technique and tradition, maximizing the flavors inherent in each ingredient. He begins by hand selecting the finest organic produce from local growers and farmers.

â€œOur local chefs pride themselves in preparing the finest fare, sourced from local farms throughout the area, making Chef Sullivan the perfect complement to the chef team,â€ said Stacie Jacob, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. â€œAuction goers indulge in a wine and hors d'oeuvre hour followed by a decadent five course, family style meal, featuring product from Hearst Ranch Beef, California Lamb, Kerrygold and other local farms.â€

The evening culminates at the start of the live, Wine Country Auction. Guests raise their paddles to bid on lifestyle and wine country related items including signed, large format bottles, exclusive wine country getaways, exotic cruises, original Wine Festival artwork created by artist, Erwin Dazelle and much more to fulfill each and every collector and traveler. A detailed list of auction items will soon be available on www.pasowine.com.

In addition to these world-class culinary artists featured during the Wine Country Auction & Dinner, these chefs, as well as a series of other famed chefs are showcased during the Friday RESERVE event and the Saturday, Grand Tasting. Experience Chef Demonstrations and tasty bites paired with Paso Robles wines. For details and biographies on the Wine Country Auction & Dinner chef team, accompanying chef participants as well as complementary chef features, visit www.pasowine.com.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along Californiaâ€™s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is Californiaâ€™s fastest growing wine region. It encompasses more than 26,000 vineyard acres and more than 180 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com